Which of these statements is more correct? and is there a difference between them?
You should be more careful.
You should become more careful.
2006-10-17 18:27:55 · 9 answers · asked by Nebula 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
They're both grammatically correct and basically the same in meaning, but the first one is much more common. The second one is not something most native speakers of English would say. A good test for questions like this is to put each sentence in quotation marks and Google it.
"You should be more careful" = 49,900 hits
"You should become more careful" = only 1 hit
If that sentence is used only once on the entire Internet, you can be sure that it's not something people really say, even though it is not grammatically wrong to say it.
2006-10-17 18:35:17 · answer #1 · answered by Frosty Lemmon 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There is a difference.
"Be more careful" implies that the person has the ability, knowledge and skill, but is just not practicing it. It means "you know how to be careful, just do it"
"Become more careful" implies that the person does not have the ability, knowledge, and skill, they need more training. It means "you don't know how to be careful, so go learn how"
2006-10-18 01:34:27 · answer #2 · answered by Taivo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To "be more careful" is not a transition or a process. It is just something that you are. By saying "you should be more careful" you are saying that the person should already be in a state of carefulness. Whereas, to "become more careful" is a process, it is the actual transition itself of changing from less careful to more careful.If you say, "you should become more careful" it means that the person should be in the process of becoming more careful.
2006-10-17 19:21:45 · answer #3 · answered by Singwings 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should be more careful. In a way, you're saying, "You should be more careful [with these things] [in the future]. Become implies a great personality shift, while "be" implies a shift in the way one goes about thing.
2006-10-17 18:32:42 · answer #4 · answered by Joy M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Garfield but the second sentence seems awkward. I think one can "act carefully" rather than "become careful".
2006-10-17 18:33:36 · answer #5 · answered by San Diego Art Nut 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
'You should be more careful' is the best response , the second is just never said, although it is a correct sentence
2006-10-17 18:30:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the 1st answer
2006-10-17 18:31:01 · answer #7 · answered by underwaterangel 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the two certainly one of those statements are grammatically marvelous, yet they recommend extensively countless issues. one million) potential "do no longer get rid of out of your concepts the certainty you have of her concepts" (in case you recommend "do no longer overlook her", then you definately might use the singular "reminiscence", no longer the plural: "do no longer erase her reminiscence out of your concepts". in spite of the indisputable fact that this is awkward, maximum human beings might of course say, "do no longer overlook her") 2) potential "do no longer get rid of from HER concepts the concepts she has of your concepts"
2016-12-16 09:31:27 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
mmmm
2006-10-17 18:35:53 · answer #9 · answered by joe 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋